1. TEXAS A&M
Starter: Johnny Manziel, Sophomore
Key Backups: Matt Joeckel, Junior & Matt Davis, RS Freshman
Johnny Football had a stellar 2012 season throwing for 3,706 yards with 26 touchdowns! Manziel returns for an encore season and Texas A&M has a huge shot at being a national title contender. Matt Davis was my top quarterback in the 2011 recruiting class. Davis is an electric athlete like Manziel. (Lightning strike me now for saying that) Matt Joeckel, brother of Luke, is second string and provided depth in limited action.
2. LOUISVILLE
Starter: Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville
Key Backups: Will Gardner, RS Freshman & Brett Nelson, Junior
Teddy Bridgewater had a very impressive sophomore season while battling injury. He played with a broken left wrist and a gimpy ankle in the win versus Rutgers. (That says something) Bridgewater is my top rated quarterback in college football and is also my top rated quarterback for the NFL Draft. Will Gardner was a highly touted quarterback (#37 in my books in 2011) and the Cards add JUCO Brett Nelson who stands in at 6'4 220.
3. OHIO STATE
Starter: Braxton Miller, Junior
Key Backups: Kenny Guiton, Senior & Cardale Jones, RS Freshman
Braxton Miller is the product of Urban Meyer's offense. Miller finished with 28 total touchdowns in 2012 with an undefeated Buckeyes team. Miller is my pick for the 2013 Heisman Trophy and yes, over Johnny Manziel. Kenny Guiton is one of the better backup quarterbacks in the country and played well last season in a decent amount of playing time. Cardale Jones adds some athletic depth to the group.
4. GEORGIA
Starter: Aaron Murray, Senior
Key Backups: Hutson Mason, Junior & Christian LeMay, Sophomore
Aaron Murray has been one of the better quarterbacks in Georgia history. Murray needs just a little over a 1,000 yards to become the SEC's all-time leading passer. Murray has had a fine career at Georgia. Murray's backups include junior Hutson Mason and highly touted sophomore Christian LeMay.
5. CLEMSON
Starter: Tajh Boyd, Clemson
Key Backup: Cole Stoudt, Junior
An interesting stat when Boyd's name comes up in conversation is that he has thrown for at least 3,800 yards in each season he has started. Boyd proved to be amongst the elite based on last year's performances. Boyd finished the year with 3,896 yards with a whopping 36 touchdowns! Key backup Chad Kelly went down with an ACL tear in the spring but Cole Stoudt returns to supply good depth.
6. OREGON
Starter: Marcus Mariota, Sophomore
Key Backups: Jake Rodrigues, RS Freshman & Jake Lockie, RS Freshman
Marcus Mariota is the quarterback you want! Mariota is a terrific athlete as he ran for 752 yards last season with 2,677 passing yards. Mariota finished first in the Pac-12 in pass efficiency and only had one interception in the second half of the season! Mariota is a sleeper pick for the Heisman. Redshirt freshmen Jake Rodrigues and Jake Lockie provide a decent amount of depth for the Ducks.
7. ALABAMA
Starter: AJ McCarron, Senior
Key Backups: Blake Sims, Junior & Alec Morris RS Freshman & Phillip Ely, Sophomore
AJ McCarron is a game manager but can also be flashy with stats. McCarron threw for 2,933 yards with a 30-3 ratio! McCarron has one of the best winning percentages as a starting quarterback in college football history. With two national titles, McCarron isn't done yet. McCarron is backed up by athletic Blake Sims (also WR) and underclassmen Alec Morris and Phillip Ely.
8. UCLA
Starter: Brett Hundley, Sophomore
Key Backups: TJ Millweard, RS Freshman & Asiantii Woulard, True Freshman
Brett Hundley is one of my favorite quarterbacks this college football season. Hundley was another redshirt freshman to put up solid numbers in their first seasons. (See blog: 2013 Breakout QBs) In Hundley's first year as the starter, he broke the UCLA single season record for passing yards throwing for 3,740 yards with a high 66.5% completion percentage.
9. SAN JOSE STATE
Starter: David Fales, Senior
Key Backups: Blake Jurich, Junior & Joe Gray, Sophomore
10. NORTH CAROLINA
Starter: Bryn Renner, Senior
Key Backups: Marquise Williams, Sophomore & Mitch Trubisky, True Freshman
11. FRESNO STATE
Starter: David Carr, Senior
Key Backups: Zach Greenlee, True Freshman & Brian Burrell, Sophomore
12. OKLAHOMA STATE
Starter: Clint Chelf, Senior or JW Walsh, Sophomore
Key Backups: Clint Chelf, Senior or JW Walsh, Sophomore
13. TCU
Starter: Casey Pachall, TCU
Key Backup: Trevone Boykin, Sophomore
14. NORTHERN ILLINOIS
Starter: Jordan Lynch, Senior
Key Backup: Matt McIntosh, Sophomore
15. ARIZONA STATE
Starter: Taylor Kelly, Junior
Key Backup: Michael Eubank, Sophomore
16. NEBRASKA
Starter: Taylor Martinez, Senior
Key Backups: Tommy Armstrong, RS Freshman & Ron Kellogg, Senior
17. SOUTH CAROLINA
Starter: Connor Shaw, Senior
Key Backup: Dylan Thompson, Junior
18. MISSISSIPPI
Starter: Bo Wallace, Junior
Key Backup: Barry Brunetti, Senior
19. TEXAS
Starter: David Ash, Junior
Key Backups: Case McCoy, Senior % Tyronne Swoopes, True Freshman
20. LSU
Starter: Zach Mettenberger, Senior
Key Backups: Stephen Rivers, Sophomore & Rob Bolden, Junior
21. MICHIGAN
Starter: Devin Gardner, Junior
Key Backup: Shane Morris, True Freshman
22. UCF
Starter: Blake Bortles, UCF
Key Backup: Tyler Gabbert, Junior
23. VIRGINIA TECH
Starter: Logan Thomas, Senior
Key Backups: Mark Leal, Junior & Bucky Hodges, True Freshman
24. UTAH STATE
Starter: Chuckie Keeton, Junior
Key Backup: Jeff Manning, RS Freshman
25. STANFORD
Starter: Kevin Hogan, Sophomore
Key Backup: Evan Crower, Sophomore
26. MIAMI, FLORIDA
Starter: Stephen Morris, Senior
Key Backup: Ryan Williams, Junior
27. MARSHALL
Starter: Rakeem Cato, Junior
Key Backup: Blake Frohnapfel, Sophomore
28. FLORIDA
Starter: Jeff Driskel, Junior
Key Backups: Skyler Mornhinweg, RS Freshman & Tyler Murphy, Junior
29. MISSOURI
Starter: James Franklin, Senior
Key Backups: Corbin Berkstresser, Sophomore & Maty Mauk, RS Freshman
30. WASHINGTON
Starter: Keith Price, Senior
Key Backups: Cyler Miles, RS Freshman & Jeff Lundquist, RS Freshman
Starter: Johnny Manziel, Sophomore
Key Backups: Matt Joeckel, Junior & Matt Davis, RS Freshman
Johnny Football had a stellar 2012 season throwing for 3,706 yards with 26 touchdowns! Manziel returns for an encore season and Texas A&M has a huge shot at being a national title contender. Matt Davis was my top quarterback in the 2011 recruiting class. Davis is an electric athlete like Manziel. (Lightning strike me now for saying that) Matt Joeckel, brother of Luke, is second string and provided depth in limited action.
2. LOUISVILLE
Starter: Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville
Key Backups: Will Gardner, RS Freshman & Brett Nelson, Junior
Teddy Bridgewater had a very impressive sophomore season while battling injury. He played with a broken left wrist and a gimpy ankle in the win versus Rutgers. (That says something) Bridgewater is my top rated quarterback in college football and is also my top rated quarterback for the NFL Draft. Will Gardner was a highly touted quarterback (#37 in my books in 2011) and the Cards add JUCO Brett Nelson who stands in at 6'4 220.
3. OHIO STATE
Starter: Braxton Miller, Junior
Key Backups: Kenny Guiton, Senior & Cardale Jones, RS Freshman
Braxton Miller is the product of Urban Meyer's offense. Miller finished with 28 total touchdowns in 2012 with an undefeated Buckeyes team. Miller is my pick for the 2013 Heisman Trophy and yes, over Johnny Manziel. Kenny Guiton is one of the better backup quarterbacks in the country and played well last season in a decent amount of playing time. Cardale Jones adds some athletic depth to the group.
4. GEORGIA
Starter: Aaron Murray, Senior
Key Backups: Hutson Mason, Junior & Christian LeMay, Sophomore
Aaron Murray has been one of the better quarterbacks in Georgia history. Murray needs just a little over a 1,000 yards to become the SEC's all-time leading passer. Murray has had a fine career at Georgia. Murray's backups include junior Hutson Mason and highly touted sophomore Christian LeMay.
5. CLEMSON
Starter: Tajh Boyd, Clemson
Key Backup: Cole Stoudt, Junior
An interesting stat when Boyd's name comes up in conversation is that he has thrown for at least 3,800 yards in each season he has started. Boyd proved to be amongst the elite based on last year's performances. Boyd finished the year with 3,896 yards with a whopping 36 touchdowns! Key backup Chad Kelly went down with an ACL tear in the spring but Cole Stoudt returns to supply good depth.
6. OREGON
Starter: Marcus Mariota, Sophomore
Key Backups: Jake Rodrigues, RS Freshman & Jake Lockie, RS Freshman
Marcus Mariota is the quarterback you want! Mariota is a terrific athlete as he ran for 752 yards last season with 2,677 passing yards. Mariota finished first in the Pac-12 in pass efficiency and only had one interception in the second half of the season! Mariota is a sleeper pick for the Heisman. Redshirt freshmen Jake Rodrigues and Jake Lockie provide a decent amount of depth for the Ducks.
7. ALABAMA
Starter: AJ McCarron, Senior
Key Backups: Blake Sims, Junior & Alec Morris RS Freshman & Phillip Ely, Sophomore
AJ McCarron is a game manager but can also be flashy with stats. McCarron threw for 2,933 yards with a 30-3 ratio! McCarron has one of the best winning percentages as a starting quarterback in college football history. With two national titles, McCarron isn't done yet. McCarron is backed up by athletic Blake Sims (also WR) and underclassmen Alec Morris and Phillip Ely.
8. UCLA
Starter: Brett Hundley, Sophomore
Key Backups: TJ Millweard, RS Freshman & Asiantii Woulard, True Freshman
Brett Hundley is one of my favorite quarterbacks this college football season. Hundley was another redshirt freshman to put up solid numbers in their first seasons. (See blog: 2013 Breakout QBs) In Hundley's first year as the starter, he broke the UCLA single season record for passing yards throwing for 3,740 yards with a high 66.5% completion percentage.
9. SAN JOSE STATE
Starter: David Fales, Senior
Key Backups: Blake Jurich, Junior & Joe Gray, Sophomore
10. NORTH CAROLINA
Starter: Bryn Renner, Senior
Key Backups: Marquise Williams, Sophomore & Mitch Trubisky, True Freshman
11. FRESNO STATE
Starter: David Carr, Senior
Key Backups: Zach Greenlee, True Freshman & Brian Burrell, Sophomore
12. OKLAHOMA STATE
Starter: Clint Chelf, Senior or JW Walsh, Sophomore
Key Backups: Clint Chelf, Senior or JW Walsh, Sophomore
13. TCU
Starter: Casey Pachall, TCU
Key Backup: Trevone Boykin, Sophomore
14. NORTHERN ILLINOIS
Starter: Jordan Lynch, Senior
Key Backup: Matt McIntosh, Sophomore
15. ARIZONA STATE
Starter: Taylor Kelly, Junior
Key Backup: Michael Eubank, Sophomore
16. NEBRASKA
Starter: Taylor Martinez, Senior
Key Backups: Tommy Armstrong, RS Freshman & Ron Kellogg, Senior
17. SOUTH CAROLINA
Starter: Connor Shaw, Senior
Key Backup: Dylan Thompson, Junior
18. MISSISSIPPI
Starter: Bo Wallace, Junior
Key Backup: Barry Brunetti, Senior
19. TEXAS
Starter: David Ash, Junior
Key Backups: Case McCoy, Senior % Tyronne Swoopes, True Freshman
20. LSU
Starter: Zach Mettenberger, Senior
Key Backups: Stephen Rivers, Sophomore & Rob Bolden, Junior
21. MICHIGAN
Starter: Devin Gardner, Junior
Key Backup: Shane Morris, True Freshman
22. UCF
Starter: Blake Bortles, UCF
Key Backup: Tyler Gabbert, Junior
23. VIRGINIA TECH
Starter: Logan Thomas, Senior
Key Backups: Mark Leal, Junior & Bucky Hodges, True Freshman
24. UTAH STATE
Starter: Chuckie Keeton, Junior
Key Backup: Jeff Manning, RS Freshman
25. STANFORD
Starter: Kevin Hogan, Sophomore
Key Backup: Evan Crower, Sophomore
26. MIAMI, FLORIDA
Starter: Stephen Morris, Senior
Key Backup: Ryan Williams, Junior
27. MARSHALL
Starter: Rakeem Cato, Junior
Key Backup: Blake Frohnapfel, Sophomore
28. FLORIDA
Starter: Jeff Driskel, Junior
Key Backups: Skyler Mornhinweg, RS Freshman & Tyler Murphy, Junior
29. MISSOURI
Starter: James Franklin, Senior
Key Backups: Corbin Berkstresser, Sophomore & Maty Mauk, RS Freshman
30. WASHINGTON
Starter: Keith Price, Senior
Key Backups: Cyler Miles, RS Freshman & Jeff Lundquist, RS Freshman